It Ain't Happening

The President's campaign to change Social Security seems to be having the exact opposite of the desired effect. As people learn more about it, they become LESS likely to support it:

Barely a third of the public approves of the way President Bush is dealing with Social Security and a majority says the more they hear about Bush's plan to reform the giant retirement system, the less they like it, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

...on Social Security, the president's popularity continues to decline. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed said they approved of the way Bush is handling Social Security, down three points since January and the lowest level of support for Bush on this issue ever recorded in Post-ABC polls.

Nearly six in 10--58 percent--say they are more inclined to oppose administration's reform plans as they learn more about it. Only a third say they are more receptive to Bush's proposals as more details become available.

It sounds like critics almost don't even need to oppose the plan. Whatever they have be trying to fudge, the administration seems incapable of spinning the press to conceal the fact that the plan will at the very least rack up trillions in debt while lowering the amount available in benefits. That's hardly a recipe for a successful sale.